The Creation of China: Qin Shi Huangdi
In the modern era, China is one of the largest world superpowers, dominating everything from military strength to economic dominance in world markets. China’s history plays a huge importance in the Chinese identity but for a very long time was not a unified state as we see today but instead warring states constantly competing for power. Qin Shi Huangdi (pronounce Chin she hwan’ di) of the Qin dynasty can be accredited to the unification of the Chinese land and the start of a long cultural identity. His coming of power and rule of China was often driven by paranoia and cruelty but his impact and legacy are evident in his successful military campaigns, his monumental building projects and important reforms …show more content…
The climb to control and conquer the beginning of an empire was not easy and only through extensive military techniques was Qin Shi Huangdi able to successfully conquer even the most powerful states at the time. After struggling to capture the Zhao state, Qin Shi Huangdi and his military used guerrilla warfare techniques, ambushing retreating enemy soldiers and bribing opposing officers to spread rumors about the military general to have him replaced with someone incompetent to military strategies (Portal, 37). In order to maintain control after conquering the warring states Qin Shi Huangdi implemented elaborate and tactical strategies which provide him successful. By instituting rigid rules and regulations and having everyone under close watch Qin Shi Huangdi started his journey of regulating all the possible rebellions that may occur if he was not careful (DuTemple, 22). One of the most effective policies he would implement to extinguish the possible thoughts of rebelling was ordering all weapons that were not part of the militaries stockpile to be melted down and have bronze statues made of the remaining metal (Tanner, 89). The next achievement both for Qin Shi Huangdi’s legacy and military …show more content…
Known as one of the world’s greatest engineering wonders and a symbol of China’s great history, the building of the great wall of china can be attributed to Qin Shi Huangdi. In order to protect the empire that Qin Shi Huangdi thought would last forever, he decided to commission the building and expansion of the former walls that were built originally between the warring states. He felt that it was necessary to have this wall as the Xiongnu people (also known as the Hun people) from what is now inner Mongolia were seen as rebels and merciless (DuTemple, 21). In order for the great wall to be built Qin Shi Huangdi ignored the class system and everyone from slaves to higher class to work (DuTemple, 30). Another great building that is seen today is Qin Shi Huangdi’s tomb where he immortalized himself with all lavish riches and the terracotta soldiers surrounding to protect him. To sustain all these large scale building projects to remote areas the emperor needed a way to transport food and building supplies fast and efficiently. He not only want to make transportation easier but also use it as a way to keep a watchful eye over all his projects therefore standardizing road sizes to allow adequate transport (DuTemple, 23). Not only did Qin Shi Huangdi invest time into the building of
In the modern era, China is one of the largest world superpowers, dominating everything from military strength to economic dominance in world markets. China’s history plays a huge importance in the Chinese identity but for a very long time was not a unified state as we see today but instead warring states constantly competing for power. Qin Shi Huangdi (pronounce Chin she hwan’ di) of the Qin dynasty can be accredited to the unification of the Chinese land and the start of a long cultural identity. His coming of power and rule of China was often driven by paranoia and cruelty but his impact and legacy are evident in his successful military campaigns, his monumental building projects and important reforms …show more content…
The climb to control and conquer the beginning of an empire was not easy and only through extensive military techniques was Qin Shi Huangdi able to successfully conquer even the most powerful states at the time. After struggling to capture the Zhao state, Qin Shi Huangdi and his military used guerrilla warfare techniques, ambushing retreating enemy soldiers and bribing opposing officers to spread rumors about the military general to have him replaced with someone incompetent to military strategies (Portal, 37). In order to maintain control after conquering the warring states Qin Shi Huangdi implemented elaborate and tactical strategies which provide him successful. By instituting rigid rules and regulations and having everyone under close watch Qin Shi Huangdi started his journey of regulating all the possible rebellions that may occur if he was not careful (DuTemple, 22). One of the most effective policies he would implement to extinguish the possible thoughts of rebelling was ordering all weapons that were not part of the militaries stockpile to be melted down and have bronze statues made of the remaining metal (Tanner, 89). The next achievement both for Qin Shi Huangdi’s legacy and military …show more content…
Known as one of the world’s greatest engineering wonders and a symbol of China’s great history, the building of the great wall of china can be attributed to Qin Shi Huangdi. In order to protect the empire that Qin Shi Huangdi thought would last forever, he decided to commission the building and expansion of the former walls that were built originally between the warring states. He felt that it was necessary to have this wall as the Xiongnu people (also known as the Hun people) from what is now inner Mongolia were seen as rebels and merciless (DuTemple, 21). In order for the great wall to be built Qin Shi Huangdi ignored the class system and everyone from slaves to higher class to work (DuTemple, 30). Another great building that is seen today is Qin Shi Huangdi’s tomb where he immortalized himself with all lavish riches and the terracotta soldiers surrounding to protect him. To sustain all these large scale building projects to remote areas the emperor needed a way to transport food and building supplies fast and efficiently. He not only want to make transportation easier but also use it as a way to keep a watchful eye over all his projects therefore standardizing road sizes to allow adequate transport (DuTemple, 23). Not only did Qin Shi Huangdi invest time into the building of